Argentina GP: Rossi hopeful of podium in 350th race

Italian rider ‘happy’ with start to the 2017 championship

BUENOS AIRES: Valentino Rossi races in a record-setting 350th grand prix in Argentina on Sunday determined to prove that at 38 he will not be overshadowed by teammate Maverick Vinales, who blitzed the season-opener in Qatar.

Rossi, a nine-time world champion, was third in the rain and wind of the Qatari desert after starting from 10th on the grid on a weekend when Vinales, 16 years his junior, dominated on his first outing for Yamaha.

Round 2, coming in hot🔥🔥🔥🔥#ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/5cW70BUIaL

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 3, 2017

"It wasn't an easy start to the championship but I was very happy to be able to get on the podium," said Rossi. "Now we go to Argentina. This is a track that I like very much and I'm happy to go there. I hope that there are good asphalt conditions because last year it was difficult for us."

Rossi came home in second place at the dusty and hot Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina last year having taken victory 12 months earlier.

But his former teammate Jorge Lorenzo, whose decision to move to Ducati opened the door for Vinales at Yamaha, believes that the flying Spaniard could end up making Rossi feel his age this season.

Perfect preparation prevents poor performance✨ #ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/ndoVo6I5On

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 7, 2017

"It's nothing easy for Valentino to keep racing MotoGP at his age," Lorenzo told www.motorsports.com. "The second oldest rider is maybe 32, and he's 38. I guess when you become 38 every season is tougher than the one before; that's something Rossi recognises himself.”

Ever wondered if #MotoGP riders talk to themselves during a race?

Well, turns out @maverickmack25 does! #ArgentinaGP #AskVinales pic.twitter.com/UA2IVTAXcr

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 6, 2017

However, former Suzuki pilot Vinales, who became the second youngest rider to win in the premier class for two different manufacturers, just behind Mike Hailwood with his Qatar triumph, recognises that he is already a marked man.

"We have the difficult challenge to continue getting good results, Qatar was only the first race of 18," said the Spaniard. "I can feel the pressure a little bit because the level of my rivals is very high.”

So, @ValeYellow46 - jump out of a plane with @jackmilleraus or ride in the passenger seat with @calcrutchlow in a car chase?🙈😂 #ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/xGATiQC45m

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 6, 2017

The Argentina race is also a key test for defending world champion Marc Marquez after the Spaniard managed just fourth place in Qatar on his Honda.

In amongst HEAPS of marriage proposals, a follower on Instagram asked @marcmarquez93 where he would like to build a race track🏁 #ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/0VE9tqCkfE

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 6, 2017

"I must fight for the podium," said the Spaniard, a two-time winner at the race and world champion in 2013, 2014 and 2016.